Paper coating machine



Aug. 28, 1934.

A. LESTER (PAPER COATING MACHINE Filed Sept. 22. 1950 Patented Aug. 28, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE The invention relates to a machine for coating paper in a continuous web, either on both sides of a web or on one side only, and more particularly to an improved mechanism for equalizing or spreading the coating.

The main object of this invention is to provide a machine adapted to handle paper rapidly, and to coatthe same evenly while keeping the paper smoothed out and free from wrinkles throughout,

the method of handling being such that even a very wide web of paper can be handled without injurythereto.

A further object of thisinvention is to provide an improved means for equalizing or spreading 5 the coating, such means consisting in one preferred embodiment in a relatively ,wide transversely disposed strip of feltor like material mounted in position to have the paper "pass thereagainst.

J A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved mechanism for smoothing out the paper and maintaining the same during its passage through the machine in a perfectly smooth condition, and without creases or wrinkles.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism for applying thecoating' materialto the paper, said mechanism consisting of a transversely disposed member having an inclined surface terminating in a felt strip, the latter being in contact with the paper, and being adapted for conducting the said coating material to said paper.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved means for equalizing or spreading the coating, said means having associated therewith a blast of air for forcing said paper against the said equalizing means.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and particular- 1y pointed outin the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form,

proportion, size and minor details of the struc-' ture maybe made without departing from the spirit'or sacrificing any of the. advantages of the invention. j

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of 'iny invention I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing preferred embodiments thereof, from an'inspection of which, when con-' sidered in connection with the following description, my invention, its mode of construction and readily understood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawing in which similar characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts thereof throughout the several 0 figures of the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical lengthwise, diagrammatical view of the mechanism embodying the invention and adapted for coating both sides of a web of paper; and

Figure 2 is a similar view of the mechanism embodying the invention, the same being assembled for coating only one side of the said web of paper.

'The main parts of the mechanism and the path operation, and many of its advantages should be or run of the paper when it is being coated, is; as

follows: g

' Referring to Figure 1, the reference character 10 designates the web of paper which runs from the roll 11 under a guiding roll 12 and over a sec-- ond guiding roll l3, from which it passes between a pair of rolls 14 and 15, the former roll being disposed in a vessel 16 holding the coating material 17, whereby the under side of the web 10 will be coated with said coating material in passing over the roll 14. Disposed in front of the roll 15, is a suitable nozzle 18 through which a supply of coating material is adapted to be applied to the upper surface of the web for coating the said 1 upper surface. The said nozzle is connected in the .usual manner with a suitable supply of coat- 35 ing material which supply may be disposed at any desired point adjacent the machine, and which may be pumped by any suitable .pump (not shown) to the nozzle from which it issues onto'the paper. A transversely disposed rod 19 may be provided at a point below the nozzle 18 for supporting the web at that point in order to prevent the sagging of the same from the weight orload of the coating material applied thereto. After leaving the rolls 14 and 15 the paper passes overa transversely disposed equalizer for equalizing and spreading the coating material on the under surface of the web; In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 my improved equalizer consists of a relatively wide strip of felt 20, or some other similar material, said strip being mounted on a suit,- able plate or member 21, and being disposed in position to have the under-surface of the web 10 pass -over the *same. V

In order to assure a contacting engagement between the web and the felt strip 20, -I provide a nozzle 22 from which is adapted to issue a blast of air directed against 'the upper surface of the web to force the same into contacting engagement 110 with the said equalizer. If desired, the said blast r of air may be confined by providing the backing plate 23, which is associated with the nozzle 22. As shown in the drawing, the said backing plate 23 is disposed in substantially parallel relationship to the felt strip 20 and spaced a small distance therefrom. Thus, in passing between the equalizer and plate 23, the web will have the blast of air strike the upper surface thereof, forcing the same away from the plate 23 and causing the under surface of the web to engage the strip 20 which will smooth out and uniformly spread the coating material applied to said under surface. The provision of the blast of air will not only cause a uniform spreading of the coating material on the under surface of the web, but will also tend to take out all creases and wrinkles that may have formed in said web. If desired, a suitable brush 24 may be provided just beyond the equalizer 20 for further finishing the under surface of said paper.

The idler 25 may also be provided just before the paper passes through a second equalizer disposed-in position for equalizing and spreading the coating material applied to the upper surface of the paper. This second equalizer is similar in construction to the first equalizer, and consists of the felt strip 26 suitably mounted on a plate or member 27. A nozzle 28 is provided for directing a blast of air against the under side of the web of paper adjacent the felt strip 26 to force the upper surface of the web against said felt strip. The nozzle 28 may also be provided with the backing plate 29 for confining the blast of air within a limited space so as to make the same more effective in forcing the web against the equalizer. A suitable brush 30 may be provided just beyond the second equalizer strip 26 to further finish off the upper surface of the web. From said brush 30 the web is adapted to pass between two blasts of air issuing from the nozzles 31 and 32 from which it is adapted to pass over a series of nozzles (not shown) for directing a blast of air against the paper web for drying the same before it reaches the suction apron (not shown).

In the arrangement of the machine shown in Figure 2, only one side, the upper surface ofthe web, is to be coated. In this arrangement the web 10 runs from the roll 11, over the guiding roll 13, then under the guiding roll 12, and then over the roll 14, which, in this case, is a dry roll. The coating material is conducted to the upper surface of the web by means of a transversely disposed member 40 which is of substantially triangular cross-section, the upper surface of which is inclined as shown in the drawing. The free end of said inclined surface has secured thereto a strip of felt 41, or some other suitable material which is adapted for applying the coating material to the web. The nozzle 18 from which the coating material issues is disposed above the member 40, said nozzle being connected in'the usual manner (not shown) with a suitable supply of coating material. It will be noted that after striking the member 40 the said coating material will pass onto the felt strip 41 from which it will be deposited onto the upper surface of the web. The web 10 is adapted to pass between the rolls 14 and 15 from which it passes under the equalizing strip 26, which is similar to the equalizers described in connection with the mechanism shown in Figure 1, and which consists of a relatively wide strip of felt or other suitable material suitably mountedon a plate member 27'. The nozzle 29' is adapted for directing a blast of air against the under surface of the web to force the same into contacting engagement with the felt strip 26' which will cause a uniform spreading of the coating material applied to the upper surface of the said web. The nozzle 28' has associated therewith the backing plate 29, which is disposed in substantially parallel relationship to the felt strip 26, and which is adapted for confining the blast of air so as to make the same more effective in its action against the web.

A suitable brush 30' may be provided just beyond the equalizer for further finishing the upper surface of said paper. An idler 42 is also provided adjacent said brush and on the opposite side thereof. The web is adapted to pass from said idler between a pair of blasts of air issuing from the nozzles 43 and 44, said paper then passing over a series of nozzles from which is adapted to issue blasts of air for drying the same prior to its reaching the suction apron (not shown).

It will thus be noted that I have provided an equalizer which will not only be highly eflicient in uniformly spreading the coating material on the web, but will. also prevent the formation of any creases or wrinkles in the web, thereby making it possible to coat a web much wider than has heretofore been possible. The provision of my improved equalizer not only eliminates the use of the highly expensive and non-durable brushes heretofore used in the coating of paper, but also because of its relatively smooth and uniform surface, will be more efficient in spreading the coating material and will result in a more perfect product. The provision of the confined blasts of air for forcing the web against the equalizer will prevent the formation of any creases, or wrinkles in the web, and will cause a substantially uniform contacting engagement between the web and the equalizer which will result in a more uniformly coated paper. If desired, the blasts of air issuing from the nozzles 22, 28 and 28 may be accomplished by the provision of a series of nozzles disposed transversely of the machine, which nozzles may be adjustable -to permit the regulation of the intensity of the draft issuing from any one nozzle. Thus, it may be possible to direct a stronger blast of air along certain portions of the web for taking out any wrinkles or creases that may have been formed at those portions.

Obviously, any other suitable equalizing means, such for example as brushes or the like, may be employed in place of the felt strips illustrated, said other equalizing means having also asso ciated with them my improved air blast means for forcing the web against the same, and also for preventing the formation of any creasesor wrinkles in the web, thereby making it possible to coat a web much wider than has heretofore been possible. It will also be noted that my improved coating machine is constructed so that the same may be used with very little modification for either single or double coating.

It is believed that my invention, its mode of construction and many of its advantages, should be readily understood and appreciated from the foregoing, without further description, and should also be manifest that while a, preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for illustrative purposes, the structural details are, nevertheless, capable of wide variation within the purview of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters arranged to receive the paper therefrom, said equalizing device having a relatively wide smooth plane backing face against which the paper is pressed bythe blast of air created by said air blast means as it passes over the same.

2. A machine for coating paper, comprising a coating means, means for feeding a web of paper therethrough, a relatively wide equalizing surface arranged adjacent said coating means, for receiving the paper directly therefrom, and air pressure means for producing an air blast associated with said equalizing means adapted for forcing the paper against'the said equalizer.

3, A paper coating machine comprising a coating means, means for feeding a paper web through said coating means, and an equalizing member formed as a relatively wide smooth plane "surfaeg arranged adjacent said coating means the paper directly therefrom, and means for producing a blast of air for forcing said paper against said equalizer.

4. A paper coating machine, comprising a coating means, and an equalizing mechanism coop erative therewith, composed of a relatively flat member presenting a soft and yielding paperengaging portion, and means for producing an air blast to be directed against the paper for forcing said paper against said equalizing mechanism.

5. A paper coating machine, comprising a coating 'means, and an equalizing mechanism cooperative therewith, composed of a member having a relatively wide plane smooth surface over which the paper-is adapted to pass, and means for producing a blast to be directed against said paper for forcing said paper against said equalizing mechanism.

' ber having a relatively.wide, plane, smooth surface arranged adjacent said coating means to receive the paper directly therefrom, and air blast means arranged for cooperation with said equalizer for forcing said paper web against the said plane surface, said air blast being directed against a backing plate so as to confine the air whereby it will be also effective in the prevention of the formation ofany creases or wrinkles in the paper web. l

' 8. A paper coating machine, comprising a coating means, means for feeding a paper web so as to'be coated by said coating means, means for uniformly, spreading said coating on said paper web, said last mentioned means comprising a member having a relatively wide smooth, plane surface over which the paper web isadapted' to pass, and means associatedwith said last mentioned member adapted for cooperation therewith to force the said paper web against the same,

said last mentioned means comprising a nozzle for directing a blast of air against the paper web and means arranged parallel to said paper web for confining said blast of air within a limited space. v

9. A paper coating machine, comprising a coating means for coating both sides of a paper web, and a pair of equalizers arranged to receive the paper from the coating means, each of said equal izers having a relatively wide smooth, plane surface, oneof said equalizers being adapted for engaging one side of the paper for uniformly spreading the coating thereon, and theother of said equalizers being arranged for engaging the other side of said paper for uniformly spreading the coating thereon, and'air blast means having horizontally disposed plate extensions associated with both of said equalizers for forcing the paper against the said equalizers. i

10. A paper coating machine, comprising a I coating means, meansfor feeding a paper web so as to be coated by said coating means, means comprising a relatively wide, smooth plane surface for uniformly spreading said coating on said paper, means for producing an air blast arranged in position to, force the said paper against said last mentioned means, and a horizontally disposed plate extension formed on said air blast means for confining the air blast directed against the said paper web.

T 11. A paper coating machine, comprising a coating means, means for feeding a relatively wide paper web so as to be coated by said coating means, an equalizer having a relatively wide smooth plane surface for uniformly, spreading said coating material on said paper, and means including a blast of air cooperating with said equalizer for forcing the paper against the same and for maintaining the paper in a smooth condition free from wrinkles and creases.

12. A paper coating machine, comprising a coating means, means for'feeding a paper web so as to'be coated by said coating means, and equalizing means having a relatively wide smooth plane surface for removing the surplus coat from the paper web, and a nozzle for directing a blast of air against the paper web so as to force the same against the equalizing means, said nozzle having a plate member extending therefrom and arranged parallel to said equalizing means whereby the blast of air issuing from the nozzle will be' confined between the said plate member and the paper web. v

13. A .paper coating machine, comprising a pair of rollers between which the paper web is adapted to be fed, a transversely disposed member provided in front of said rollers and immediately adjacent thereto, means for supplying coating material to said member, means comprising a strip of fibrous material provided on said member at its free end for conducting said coating material to said paper web, an equalizer having a plane smooth surface provided beyond said rollers for removing the surplus coat from said paper web, and means for producing an air blast for ALBERT LESTER. 

